Linette lay sprawled upon the floor as the other person climber to their feet. She felt a chubby arm pull her up, the heard the unmistakable voice of the head servant. "Linette! Watch where you're goin' lass! You could kill me one of these days!"

Linette cringed as she noticed the angry tone of voice. "I'm sorry Cecilia, I wasn't paying attention."

"Darn right you weren't, girl! And what took you so long cleaning up the courtyard? We need your help at the kitchens tonight!" Cecilia continued to berate her, but Linette cut her off.

"I twisted my ankle. And you know how stubborn and slow those stable donkeys are!"

Cecilia sighed. "I know lass. I'm sorry for letting my temper get the best of me. But these are stressful times, what with the Midwinter Ball coming up. King Jasson's invited every noble in Tortall to come, seems like. Just get to the kitchens now, the cooks need someone to do errands for them. Can you walk on that ankle of yours?

Linette tested her weight on it, and was surprised to notice that it didn't even hurt anymore. She supposed the three days the healer had told her to wait was just a safety precaution. She nodded, and then hurried off to the kitchens.

Linette found the cooks in a frenzy. She looked for a familiar face, and bolted towards the person at the other side of the kitchen before another cook spotted her. She smiled at the Carthaki cook, who was busy applying frosting to a platter of small tea cakes. "Chavi, can I help you?"

The cook jumped, crushing one of the tiny cakes. "Gods, you scared the living daylights out of me girl." She looked down at the flattened cake and sighed. "Oh well, I made a few extra. Lucky that I hadn't started with the frosting on this one yet." She held the cake out to Linette. "Either toss it or eat it girl, then you can help me."

Linette walked to the end of the kitchen and opened the door there. She took a small piece from the cake and ate it, then threw it out to the stray dogs that waited outside of the door for that sole purpose. She licked her lips as she half-pushed through the mad bustle of cooks to where Chavi was frosting cakes. "Chavi, that was good, crushed or not." she laughed. "Sorry about that. I seem to have a knack for ruining things."

She started to tell Chavi about the sprained ankle and the kind noble, but was interrupted by the cook next to Chavi. "Lass, if yer goin' to stand here and talk about, go do me a favor." He pointed to the exit where she had thrown the cake. "Go and get me the biggest sack of almonds you can find from the storage shed out there. It should be unlocked."

Linette scowled but did as she was told. She again pushed through the mass of flesh and the mixed smell of every food Linette had ever known. She inhaled the aroma of beef, cakes, fish, and the unmistakable scent of her favorite drink, hot apple cider. She grimaced as she shook herself back to reality, remembering that she was a maid with an errand to do. She pushed the door leading to the storm open, leaning into the force of the gale that certainly had not been there just a few moments before.

Linette surveyed the courtyard before stepping into the fierceness of the storm. All of the dogs were gone, no doubt realizing that the few scraps of food they could get or steal were not worth battling with nature's fury. She pulled her arms tightly around her, mentally scolding herself for not borrowing or even getting her own cloak from her room. Her long brown hair tumbled into her face as she dashed across the yard, being sure to not come down too hard upon her sprained ankle. Finally the sight of the shack loomed into view, surprisingly close for the amount of time it took her to distinguish it from the gray of the storm. She pulled herself into it, and the wind pushed the door shut without her having to wrench her arms away from her chest for a second time.

Unbeknownst to her, somebody had watched her trek to the shed from the safety of the castle. . .

Author's Note: I am sooooo sorry for not updating this in *counts on fingers, then on toes* ummm. a very long time. Please forgive me for the delay. I apologize for the shortness of the chapter, but. . . I am lazy. Please review both of my stories, I will love you (but not in a perverted way) if you do. In answer to your questions:

milky way bar and Midnight Unicorn: A Mary Sue is a girl who is just a little too perfect to be real. If you want to understand a little bit more, there is a guide to Mary Sues by an author called TA Maxwell on fictionpress.net. I think it's called "The Official Mary Sue Manuel." It details the different types of Mary Sues and how to avoid writing one.

Wicklowe: This is supposed to be taking place at the royal palace, and it is supposed to be her home, not a stranger's home. I'm sorry if I worded it confusingly.

Robinwyn: If you read the quote I have at the very beginning of the first chapter, you will see how the "Minstrel's Tale" thing fits in.

EvenSong: Yeah, I know it was underdeveloped, and I wish I could fix it, but I kind of wanted to make it a sort of teaser chapter. I promise future chapters will be longer.

treanz-alyce: THANK YOU!